Modularity of Mind

work by Fodor

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July 20, 2026

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Jerry Fodor's work on the modularity of mind proposes that the mind is not a single, general-purpose processor but is instead composed of specialized modules. These modules are thought to be "informationally encapsulated," meaning they process specific types of input and are largely independent of other mental processes. This contrasts with a more holistic view of cognition. Fodor's theory, particularly his computational-representational theory of thought (CRTT), suggests that thinking involves manipulating symbols in a "language of thought," akin to a computer processing information. This framework has been influential in cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence, though Fodor himself acknowledged limitations in CRTT's ability to fully explain universal human reasoning.1

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philosophy of mind
The computational account of rationality
In his influential book Modularity of Mind (1983), Fodor went so far as to postulate separate “modules” for perception and language processing that are “informationally encapsulated.” Although the outputs of perceptual modules serve as inputs to systems of belief fixation, the internal processes of each module are segregated from…
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In his influential book Modularity of Mind (1983), Fodor went so far as to postulate separate “modules” for perception and language processing that are “informationally encapsulated.” Although the outputs of perceptual modules serve as inputs to systems of belief fixation, the internal processes of each module are segregated from…
Read More